While traditionally the health impact of fatty acids was mainly associated with cardiovascular disease, it is now widely recognized that fatty acids also play a crucial role in the development of other diseases including type 2 diabetes, inflammatory diseases, and cancer. Thus, maintaining optimal levels of fatty acids is essential for overall health and wellbeing. MosaicDX provides the Omega-3 Index Complete Test which assesses the fatty acid levels in blood using a dried blood spot for collection. This comprehensive test not only reports the levels of all 24 fatty acids but also includes the Omega-3 index, ratios, and the trans-fat index, providing a holistic analysis of one’s fatty acid status. The Omega-3 Index Complete can help determine if supplementation or dietary changes are needed to reduce related symptoms and support optimal health. Below is a comprehensive list of fatty acids the profile includes. The test also displays the percentage whole blood levels for the following fatty acid groups: Omega-3 Fatty Acids Omega-6 Fatty Acids Monosaturated Fatty Acids Saturated Fatty Acids Trans Fatty Acids Ratios Why Conduct the Omega-3 Index Complete Test? Understanding and maintaining proper levels of fatty acids is a vital key to optimizing health. The Omega-3 Index Complete Test provides comprehensive information and includes the following: Omega-3 Index The Omega-3 Index is the proportion of long-chain omega-3s, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), of all fatty acids in your red blood cell membranes. It reflects the omega-3 status of your body over the last 4 months, similar to how hemoglobin A1C reflects long-term glucose blood levels. As a part of an overall healthy lifestyle, an Omega-3 Index in the 8-12% range may help to maintain heart, brain, eye and joint health. To increase your Omega-3 Index, eat foods rich in EPA and DHA, especially “oily” fish such as those in the accompanying table. They can also be obtained from dietary supplements (fish, krill, cod liver, algal oils) and functional foods (omega-3 enriched milk, eggs, etc.). Omega-6:Omega-3 Ratio Omega-6:Omega-3 (n6:n3) ratio is calculated by dividing the sum of seven omega-6 fatty acids by the sum of four omega-3 fatty acids in whole blood. Only one omega-6 fatty acid, arachidonic acid (AA), and one omega-3 fatty acid, eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA), make up the AA:EPA ratio. The desirable range for the Omega-6:Omega-3 ratio is 3:1 to 5:1, and the desirable range for the AA:EPA ratio is 2.5:1 – 11:1. The desirable ranges for the ratios were calculated to correspond to the desirable range for the Omega-3 Index due to the strong relationship between among these metrics. The Trans-Fat Index The Trans Fat Index is the percent of 18:1 and 18:2 trans fatty acids of total fatty acids in red blood cell membranes, and the desirable range is
